Canadian athletic wear retailer to make U.S. store debut

RYU Apparel is coming to the Big Apple.



RYU (Respect Your Universe) announced plans to open a store in in the hip Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. The 2,800-sq.-ft. store, the brand's first in the U.S., will open in the first quarter of 2018.



Originally founded in Portland, Oregon, RYU is an athletic apparel and accessories brand engineered for the fitness, training and performance of the multi-discipline athlete. Marcello Leone, whose parents founded Canadian luxury retailer Leone, took the company over in 2014. Leone moved RYU's headquarters from the United States to Vancouver, British Columbia, and revamped the brand to give it broader appeal. It currently operates four locations in Canada, with a fifth opening in October.



"We are excited to announce this important next step in the growth of RYU as a global brand," said Leone, CEO and president of RYU. "Expansion into the New York City area allows us to create connections and build community in one of the most influential athletic and fashion markets in the world."



Originally founded in Portland, Oregon, RYU or 'Respect Your Universe', is an athletic tech-style apparel brand engineered for the fitness, training and performance of the multi-discipline athlete. Marcello Leone, son of the founders of Vancouver-based multi-brand luxury retailer Leone, took the company over in 2014 and spearheaded an overhaul which saw its headquarters moved from the United States to Canada.